iPhones and iPads include a built‑in motion‑sickness fix in iOS 18

Apple added a little‑known accessibility feature to iPhones and iPads in iOS 18 designed to reduce motion sickness for passengers by giving the eyes visual cues that match what the inner ear is sensing.

The setting, listed as "vehicle motion cues," displays animated dots at the edge of the screen that move in sync with a car's motion. Apple made the feature available on devices running iOS 18 and later, and it can be enabled or set to turn on automatically when a device detects vehicle motion.

The dots are intended to address the sensory conflict thought to underlie motion sickness, in which the eyes and inner ear send mismatched signals to the brain. "Some people feel that they're moving while their eyes are telling them they’re not moving, or their eyes can be telling them that they should be moving, but their inner ear says, no, you're not moving," said Dr. Mohamed Elrakhawy, an assistant professor in the department of otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgery at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. He told HuffPost that the peripheral motion cues mimic the visual motion a driver would see, and that providing the eyes with a matching signal can help the brain reconcile what it is sensing.

To use the feature, go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion on an iPhone or iPad, then select "Show vehicle motion cues" and choose Off, Automatic or On. Automatic turns the dots on when the device detects that it is in a car; On keeps them visible at all times. Apple and health experts emphasize the feature is for passengers; drivers should not be looking at a phone while operating a vehicle.

Motion sickness is common. Research cited by HuffPost indicates about 59% of people report experiencing motion sickness in childhood or adulthood. Symptoms typically include nausea, dizziness and headaches. The condition results from the way the body's balance system integrates information from vision, the inner ear and balance sensors in muscles and joints, experts say.

User reports on social media and forums have been mixed. Some people say the animated dots substantially reduce their symptoms and allow them to read or watch video while traveling. Others report no benefit or say the moving elements worsened their discomfort. Dr. Elrakhawy noted that individual responses vary and that the approach is intended to make visual and vestibular inputs more consistent for the brain.

When the feature does not help, clinicians recommend other established measures. Looking out at the horizon and focusing on a distant point can stabilize gaze and reduce the sensory mismatch. Keeping the head still for a period after symptoms begin may also help. Over‑the‑counter antihistamines marketed for motion sickness, such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), can be effective for many people; some patients with severe symptoms may be prescribed transdermal scopolamine patches after discussing risks and benefits with a physician.

Apple's motion‑cue feature joins a set of software and hardware accessibility efforts intended to address discomfort and disorientation caused by motion, virtual reality and other visual inputs. The company added the dots with its iOS 18 release last year; Apple describes the option within its accessibility settings but does not position it as a medical treatment. Clinicians say the tool can be a useful, low‑risk option to try for passengers prone to motion sickness, while advising that people who experience severe or persistent symptoms consult a health professional.